In 1968, Leonard Freeman and CBS Productions introduced television audiences to Jack Lord as Detective Captain Steve McGarrett. The show ran for twelve seasons and was based on an actual police unit which operated in the 1940s while Hawaii was under martial law. The show was named Hawaii 5-0 because Hawaii is the 50th state to join the United States. The pounding theme music, iconic wave and the beautiful cinematography shot on location in Hawai’i introduced a generation of television viewers to the Hawaiian Islands. A few interesting character notes from the original series Detective Chin Ho was played by Kam Fong, an actual 18-year Honolulu police department detective and Detective Kono was played by Zulu, a Wakiki beachboy turned actor. One of the show’s arch villains Wo Fat, took his name from one of the oldest restaurants in Honolulu - Wo Fat. The opening shot of McGarrett on a lite blue beachside balcony was shot at the iconic Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki which was owned by the real life Chin Ho, a Honolulu real estate developer. After the completion of the show in 1980, Jack Lord and his wife continued to call the Kahala neighborhood of Honolulu home until his death in 1989. There is a bronze statue of Lord outside of the Kahala Mall. He was a beloved resident of Honolulu.
 Jack Lord as the original Detective Captain Steve McGarrett |  |
The reboot of the series in 2012 has been a huge success. Alex O’Loughlin plays Lt. Commander Steve McGarrett, who - as in the original series, leads an elite police task force. As in the original, nearly all of the show is shot on location in the Hawaiian Islands. Much of the regular and recurring cast also starred in the CBS drama Lost including Jorge Garcia, Daniel Dae Kim, and Terry O’Quinn. The headquarters for the reboot and the original series are in the Ali’iolani Palace in Honolulu, directly across from Iolani Palace and behind the statue of King Kamehameha. The iconic building is actually the home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court and was previously the seat of government for the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii.
 Hawaii 5-0 Today |  Today's Hawaii 5-0 Series cast |
The new show has featured the Battleship Missouri, Waiola Shave Ice, and Kona Brewing Company as well as other local businesses - reportedly boosting ticket and product sales each time. Locals have gotten used to seeing the CBS crew shooting bank robberies, car chases, and beach activities - but it’s still a thrill to come across the series being shot. If you know what to look for - it’s not too hard to identify when the show is being produced on various parts of the islands.
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